MENIAL


Meaning of MENIAL in English

I. ˈmē-nē-əl, -nyəl noun

Date: 14th century

: a person doing menial work ; specifically : a domestic servant or retainer

II. adjective

Etymology: Middle English meynial, from Anglo-French meignal, from mesnee, mayné household, retinue, from Vulgar Latin * mansionata, from Latin mansion-, mansio dwelling — more at mansion

Date: 15th century

1. : of or relating to servants : lowly

2.

a. : appropriate to a servant : humble , servile

answered in menial tones

b. : lacking interest or dignity

a menial task

• me·nial·ly adverb

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.